Kirsten was seemingly impressed after facing an 18-year-old Akhtar in nets.
Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar, who is one of the most mercurial and fearsome fast bowlers of modern times, has recently recalled how he left an impression on Gary Kirsten after a net session during Pakistan’s tour of South Africa in 1994.
Apart from Pakistan, Australia was also featured in the 1994/95 Wills Triangular Series in South Africa. Ahead of one of the ODIs, an 18-year-old Akhtar got the chance to stake his claim for the international selection, and even he managed to impress the entire Proteas set-up at nets.
Speaking on the Test Match Special podcast, Akhtar revealed Kirsten and Jonty Rhodes had asked him to bowl some deliveries in the nets and he said “Yes sir, I can do that for you [and] very soon, you’ll remember me” while recalling how he left an impression on the Proteas players and convinced former India coach to vouch for the then-teenager to be included in the Pakistan team.
However, the 44-year-old got the opportunity only after four years and the former pacer claimed he had 'lost his peak' by that time.
Akhtar said on the podcast: “I became a net bowler for the South Africans. So, the South Africans came up to me, I remember very clearly, there was one gentleman called Gary Kirsten, and Jonty Rhodes. They said, ‘Would you like to be a good net fast bowler against us?’ I said, ‘Yes sir, I can do that for you [and] very soon, you’ll remember me, that I’ll be playing against you guys.’”
He further added, “They said, ‘So, how’s that?’ And I just asked them to face me. I then bowled a couple of balls at Gary Kirsten and he said, ‘Oh my Lord, you should have been in the team rather than in the nets.’ I asked if I’m capable enough to be a great fast bowler.”
Akhtar signed off by saying, “He said, ‘You must be kidding me. I am going to vouch for you in the Pakistan dressing room that you should play.’ And Pakistan, what they did is play me four years later. So, I lost my peak there.”
(With India Today Inputs)